[southnews] Thousands march in downtown Los Angeles in anti-war rally
 
Date: Sun, 28 Jan 2007 02:41:14 -0600 (CST)


Among the participants in the peace march were Iraq veterans, activists 
and vocal anti-war protester Cindy Sheehan, who became famous for her 
extended demonstration at a peace camp outside U.S. President George W. 
Bush's Texas ranch after her son Casey was killed during his service in 
Iraq.

Thousands march in downtown Los Angeles in anti-war rally

LOS ANGELES, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- Carrying dozens of mock coffins covered 
with American flags, thousands of people took to the streets in downtown 
Los Angeles Saturday, as part of the anti-war protests across the United 
State demanding the withdrawal of troops in Iraq.

     Among the participants in the peace march were Iraq veterans, 
activists and vocal anti-war protester Cindy Sheehan, who became famous 
for her extended demonstration at a peace camp outside U.S. President 
George W. Bush's Texas ranch after her son Casey was killed during his 
service in Iraq.

     Led by a group of Iraq war veterans, about 3,000 anti-war 
protestors chanted slogans like "bring them home," demanding an end to 
the war in Iraq and more action from the incoming Democrat-controlled 
Congress as Bush seeks to send more troops there.

     "The people of this country are frustrated, from both the 
Republicans and the Democrats," said rally organizer Muna Coobte. " All 
we are hearing are just different versions of the same way to stem the 
Iraq war."

     "All the people here are saying that we want our troops to come 
home now," the activist told local TV channel ABC7.

     Bush has announced he will send 21,000 additional troops to Iraq to 
help secure Baghdad and quell violence in Al Anbar province.

     Organizers said the protest was aimed at sending a message to those 
in Congress, who have an obligation and duty to represent the mass 
opinion that's against the war.

     "We have two demands. Bring the troops home now, and stop funding 
the war," said Danielle Heck, of the "January 27 Action Coalition," the 
umbrella organization behind the march, which includes about 100 groups 
from around South California.

     "We want those politicians to know that they got voted into office 
because they are expected to end the war in Iraq," she said.

     Sheehan, who was pushing a wounded veteran in a wheelchair during 
the march, is expected to give the final speech of the day in front of 
the Federal Building in downtown Los Angeles where the march ends.

     Similar anti-war marches were reported Saturday in other U.S. 
cities, including Washington, D.C., where Hollywood stars like Jane 
Fonda and Sean Penn addressed crowds of tens of thousands in the 
National Mall.

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2007-01/28/content_5662842.htm